Improvement in humming toys



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- METOALF B. SUMNER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS IMPROVEMENT IN HUMMING TOYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,773, dated July 4, 1871.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, METCALE B. SUMNER, of Boston, in the county of Sui'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specication:

The drawing represents a perspective view of my invention.

This invention consists of a hollow instrument, of tin or other sheet metal, shaped like an hourglass, and provided with orifices, through which, as the instrument is revolved, the air rushes and produces a humming sound, the revolution being eiiected by a cord or string, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawing, A represents a hollow instrument, of tin, consisting of two truncated cones, placed point to point, giving the instrument the form of an hour-glass. The instrument A is provided near its ends with orifices B, which communicatewith the interior of the same.

A cord or string, C, is passed under the middle of the instrument or toy A, as shown, the ends of said string being provided with handles, which are grasped by the operator. The toy is then placed on a Hoor or other plane surface and drawn rapidly along the same by the string C, thereby obtaining a rotary motion, after which it is raised and suspended in the string C, as

"be produced.

shown, when, by alternately raising and depressing the handles to which the string is attached, the rotary motion of the toy is accelerated, the string acting as abelt, imtil said motion becomes suiliciently rapid to cause the air, in rushing through the orifices B, to produce a humming sound, which varies in loudness in proportion to the rapidity with Which the toy revolves. This instrument, in the hands of a skillful manipulator, is 011e with which very pleasing effects may It may, for instance, be tossed in the air while humming, and caught in the string, as before. Various other feats can be performed by one sufiiciently expert in its use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The humming toy, consisting of the hour-glassshaped hollow instrument A, provided with oriiices B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 4

METCALF B. SUMNER.

Witnesses:

JAs. D. W. LovETT, CHAnLEs F. BROWN. 

